Description
This is the 17th issue of BLK Magazine published April 1990. The front cover, printed with a tint of yellow, features an image of Marlon Riggs holding a movie camera aimed at the camera. He is visible from the waist up, wearing jeans and a leather jacket. In the background, there is a computer on top of a table. In the upper left corner of the cover, [BLK] is printed in bold, black, uppercase letters within a yellow filled rectangular box outlined in black. The issue, whole issue, and date [Vol. 2, No. 4, Whole No. 17, April 1990] are printed below the text box in black letters. This is the first issue dated in such a manner. Near the bottom and to the left is text that reads: [THE BLK INTERVIEW: / Marlon Riggs] in white letters. There are 40 numbered pages, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, black and white photographs, and cartoon illustration throughout.
The inside of the cover features an ad for the Minority AIDS Project for their program [SAY SISTER / HEY BROTHER]. The content opens with the section entitled [Word Up / News of the Outrageous, the Amusing, the Pathetic and the Unexpected] by Leon Miller with seven short articles: [Tony Brown’s White Girl], [WBLK] about neither WBLK the radio station or BLK the magazine making bids to buy each other out, [Rapological Analysis] about Big Daddy Kane’s homophobic lyrics, [Double Features I] about a new African American publication called Emerge, [Double Features II] about Marlon Riggs' black gay male film Tongues Untied and Pop Video’s Lesbian Tongues, which has an interview with Jewelle Gomez, [Naming a Female Human Being] historical terms used to refer to “female human beings”, and [Wholesale Condoms]. At the bottom, [Tell the Tale] encourages readers to send BLK odd stories.
This is followed by letters to the editor [BLK MAIL] on pages 6-8.
The cover story, which begins on page 10, is titled [Marlon Riggs Untied / The director of a celebrated black gay film talks about / his current and future projects] with a label headline [THE BLK INTERVEW]. Conducted and written by Revon Kyle, Riggs talks of his identity as a black gay filmmaker, his views on Spike Lee and Isaac Julien, personal relationships, and his films "Ethnic Notions," "Tongues Untied", and the upcoming "Affirmations". The interview spans 10 pages with one full-page ad and small ads throughout. The first two pages has the black text printed over a yellow filled box. There are three black and white photos of Riggs and one still from his film "Tongues Untied," featuring Riggs and Essex Hemphill; all are printed in black and white. There is one quote printed in a larger text, [Black men loving black men is a revolutionary act.].
Several shorter articles appear under the section [BLK COMMUNITY NEWS], the heading printed in yellow text against a black filled text box. Beginning on page 21, these articles include: [Bagneris Loses Bid for New Orleans Council] about Larry Bagneris Jr’s political run, [Video Now Available] a videotaping of the 1989 Coming Home for Friends gospel benefit concert produced by Dionne Warwick and Rev. Carl Bean, [Black Gay Man Survives Bizarre Murder Attempt / by Rex Wockner], [ACT-NOW Marks Chicago for AIDS Demonstration] about the umbrella organization AIDS Coalition to Network, Organize, and Win, [2 Gay Men Foil Mugging], [NABWMT Puts Forth Call for Convention Papers] the National Association of Black and White Men Together’s conference will have Rev. Renee McCoy, Larry Saxxon, and Pat Norman, [N.J. Cops Say They Will Stop Harassing Gay Men], [L.A. Gets New Black Gay Cultural Organization / by Mark Haile and Alan Smithee] about Warren Sims and Fred Watson founding the African American Gay and Lesbian Alliance, [Federal Judge Orders CTA to Accept AIDS Ads] about Chicago Transit Authority having to run AIDS ads, [Tijuana Group Expands] about Grupo y Que sponsoring social events, the Tijuana AIDS Project, and bi-national relations with groups in the United States, [Whiteman-Walker Gets $600K for Minority AIDS], [Foundation Drops Plan to Give Away Condoms / by Mark Haile] about Reimer Foundation no longer raising funds for Ghana’s AIDS education program , [Unite Opporessed, Says Mandela on Gay Issues / by Rex Wockner], [Deveroux Takes Second] Derrick Deveroux in the 16th annual Mr. Gay San Diego Beauty Pageant, [Disorder Might Indicate Ability to Fend off HIV], [Survey Points Out Wide Gaps in AIDS Knowledge], [Hassan, Smith Get U.S. Awards for Work in AIDS] about Rashidah Lorraine Hassan and Joseph Smith, [Students Win Rights Bill], [Activists Urge Census Count Participation], [Former Civil Rights Head Might Try for State post], [MAP Starts New Program for Women Who Are HIV+ / by Mark Haile], [Shanti Allies Raise Over $1000 for Soweto Fight], [Black PWA’s Survive Half as Long as White PWAs] about different survival rate for persons wth AIDS, [Writer Wants Loss Tales], [Minority Funds Periled / by William F. Jackson], [Howard U Settles Suit], [Black Lawmaker Nixes Gay Law; Bill Still Passes / by Rex Wockner], and [Jamaica Gets AIDS Clinic].
Section [BLK VEIL] starts on page 30 and lists six obituaries: Donals Ray Bullie, Mark Anthony Chalmers, Gregory Delane Edwards, Stephen Martin, Ewart Gladstone Mortimer III, and William Clifford “Pete” Polley,. This is followed by the gossip column [Read My Lips] written by Preston G. Guider on page 33. The issue concludes with the classifieds section [BLK MARKET], starting on page 35, with personal ads divided by gender, then U.S. regions.
The back cover is a full-page advertisement for [TALK LIVE!].
There are advertisements throughout, including: [7th Annual / Long Beach / Lesbian & Gay / Pride / Parade and Festival], a play called [TO BE LET ALONE / By Charles A. Larson] about the US Supreme Court on Trial for “discriminating against gays and lesbians”, [AIDS Project Los Angeles] with a list of services, [WORLD AFRICAN ART FESTIVAL AND CULTURAL CONVENTION], [ACCESS / The Center / The Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center] counseling services, a BLK ad for payment options, [Shanti Foundation] offering physical training, [THE Black Gay Men’s Exchange / Friendship, Companionship and Support], [Unity Fellowship Church / A Church for All People], [A DIFFERENT LIGHT / Gay and Lesbian Literature], Subscription form for BLK magazine, [WE CARE ABOUT THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY / VISITING NURSE HOMES SERVICES], [Subscribe to the leading interracial gay magazine / QUARTERLY INTERCHANGE], [BLACK GAY MEN’S EXCHANGE / PRESENTS / AN AFRICAN EXTRAVAGANZA], [ComQuest], [Black and White Men Together], [970-WOLF], [New Horizon / Annual Papa Bear / Reunion Celebration], [Hot, Horny & Healthy! / a Fun, Safer Sex Plays hop] an AIDS prevention program, [Publishing Positions Available / BLK], [The Pleasure Chest Ltd.], [Reactions], and [Chocolate Joy Productions].
